Eyes of old: Greece
The Philosophy of war part 2: An excellent plan
The siege of the fortress-city of Troy wasn´t something the micenians were used to. We fought some battles outside the city and I fought many times against Hector. I respected him, he could do things incredible for a mortal man and he was loved by his troops. But I couldn´t say the same about his brother.
First of all was thefact that he was very, very, VERY!...dumb. I am not saying that he had some mental problem or anything like that, he was a typical arrogant prince, the only thing that he had was his handsomess. But he was so despicable!
Sorry, I have lost my nerves for a second.
Let´s continue with the story before I start cursing the crap out of that guy...he really pisses me off.
So let´s start with our first offensive to the walls of troy.
-I tell you brother that there is no way we are going to agree with this!-shouted Agamenon slaming his fist on the table to shut up the men arround.
All the warlords and small kings of Greece were there sitting on the chairs near an enormous table with a map of Troy,not very precise but a map after all, and the surrounding lands. Agamenon was discussing with his brother Menelao while Aquiles was just staring at the table without interest and Ulises was reading the reports.
Meanwhile Ajax(Itachi) was helping Ulises with the reports of the scouts. It seemed that all the villages near Troy had been evacuated and the crops transported into the city, or burned. Every single capable men had readied to fight the micenians. They still outnumbered the trojans but the food and water wouldn´t last forever, they were used to fight on plain grounds or small hills. A siege was difficult for any kind of army even if they defended the city.
And now this.
The prince Paris(thinking that Agamenon and all the armies of Greece were REALLY coming to rescue Helen felt guilty and decided to chalange Menelao(Helen´s husband and brother of Agamenon) to a duel to decide who would get the princess so that no more blood would be spilled.
Yeah right...
Itachi couldn´t help but stare in shock at the men that brought the message. Did the prince really believe that Agamenon would just take all the fleet back home, making months of work and tons of resourcers wasted for nothing? But still Menelao wanted to accept the challange.
-I want to bring his skull to my palace!-shouted Menelao angrily-He must pay for what he did, and if everyone sees it...
-I have not crossed a sea to get your pretty women to you, I came here to conquer this city-said Agamenon.
-Excuse me, I may have an idea-said Ulises.
All the chieftains and nobles turned their heads towards Ulises, known as the cleverest man in Greece, to hear his plan.
-We will do as they say-began Ulises- The fight will be done. We all know that prince Paris may have some valour...but he is not a warrior, so he will die quickly. Then we will strike with the whole army.
Two hours later, outside the gates of Troy.
The whole micenian army was there.
Thousands of men and horses were lined up in a strange line. Spearmen with the cheapest weapons were the first line of the army( men too poor to buy themselves good weapons), cannon fodder. Behind them were the mercenaries and veteran warriors and at the bottom the warlords and kings gave orders on thier charriots.
Itachi was with Agamenon, Menelao, Ulises and many more kings and bodyguards, in the middle of the battlefield all of them on foot, their eyes watching the walls of Troy and the army outside it.
The trojan army looked a lot like the micenian troops but with some little differences like weapons and bows. Facing the group of micenian aristocrats were the two princes of Troy: Hector and Paris. In Itachi´s ponion, they didn´t look like brothers at all. But now the only thing that was going through Itachi´s mind was the combat that was going to happen and the troops he would have to lead.
Menealo was smiling darkly while he watched the "men" that had stole his women. Paris was some few centimeters shorter than Menelao and with not many flesh in his body, the micenian was two or three times stronger and he killed his first enemy when he was 15.
A wimpy prince against a berserker micenian king. Just one person in the whole trojan army thought that Paris had one chance against Menelao: Paris.
Agamenon said the usual words before a duel starts. The two men did the usual prayers to their gods, checked the armour and got ready to fight. Hector said some words of advaice to his brother. Paris wasn´t aware of it but Itachi knew that Hector was very worried, he didn´t show it but his eyes betrayed him.
After that everyone left the center of the battlefield except for Paris and Menelao. The two of them saluted with their swords and then the duel started.
Itachi put far more attention to the equipement of his soldiers than the duel that was happening there, besides he knew by the sounds of sword clashing against shield that Menelao was having his fun playing with the prince.
-This won´t last longer, prepear for battle and remember to fight together-said Itachi to his soldiers-Understood?-the soldiers nodded-Good.
Before he could continue with his work a scream was heard as Menelao´s sword made a deep wound to Parise´s right leg, making him fall to the ground. The micenian was now going to make the final blow but the prince started to run with one leg towards Troy´s city. Menelao followed him cursing loudly and Itachi decided to follow Menelao to prevent him from doing something stupid. Hector thought the same and walked towards Paris.
-Come on an fight! You dont deserve to be called a prince, not even a dog!-shouted Menelao as he got slowly closer to Paris.
Agamenon saw his chance so he decided to take it.
-The trojans have deshonoured the agreement, prepear for battle!-shouted Agamenon and the sound of thousands of spears getting ready answered him.
Paris finally reached his brother´s spot and fell to his knees trying to shielding himself from the big micenian. Hector just stood there not looking at his brother while Menelao continued his walk to kill the prince and Itachi got closer and closer.
-Step aside prince Hector or I will kill him at your feet!-said Menelao as he pointed at the wounded prince with his sword.
-The fight is over you have heard that-said Hector calmly, his eyes never leaving the micenian.
-The fight isn´t over until I see his corpse dismembered on the ground!-said Menelao as he readied his sword to strike.
But Hecor was faster. And before the micenian´s sowrd could start her trip to Parise´s flesh Hector´s sword pierced Menelao´s neck leaving the micenian with wide eyes, the sword cut preventing any words to go out of his mouth.
"Shit!" thought Itachi as he saw Menelao´s body fall to the ground "This won´t make Agamenon very happy". He finally arrived where Hector was trying to help his brother.
-Take your brother to the city while there is time-said Itachi as he took Menealo´s body-Do it before it is too late!
Hector helped Paris as they went towards the trojan zone and Itachi did the same with the corpse of Menelao. Some charriots tried to reach the battle or help the king´s brother so they made their horses run at full speed, their riders shouting warcries and insults as they tried their best to mantain themselvs on the machine. A poorly decorated charriot arrived first and the crew grabbed the body before they run again towards the now very close micenian battle line.
The other charriots weren´t aware of the fact that they were going alone against the trojan line, but Itachi did, and he also noticed the trojan archers aiming with their bows pointing to the charriotse´s crews. Itachi took a decision, not one he would take if he was his older motral and sane self. But he was now an immortal crazy micenian so...he didn´t mind.
The arrows were fired and the shouts of anger and insults were changed to cries of pain and the sound of flying arrows. One charriot lost it´s two crewmen, their bodies pierced by some arrows "But the horses are still alive" thought Itachi as he jumped to the charriot "Let´s go".
Itachi gave an order and the charriot started to move towards the zone where charriots and spearmen were fighting in a bloody hand to hand combat. Some charriots had been able to make some gaps in the trojan lines, but with no infantry to support them, their actions were not helping a lot. Itachi´s sudden charge changed the situation.
He made a horizontal manouver making dust and confusion cover the trojans and also crushing bones and flesh. The trojan nobles and chiefs tried to rally their troops so that they could finish the charriots but when the dust dissapeared the charriots had already fled.
"Ok that was far too close" thought Itachi as he directed the charriots to the safety of the micenian line where they would be repaired "The micenians are already fighting against the trojans, and it seems that they are going to be pulled off" thought Itachi again as he went to the fight once more.
And that happened.
The micenians run all the way to the trojan position, exahusting them while arrows, javelins and every single thing that could hurt were thrown to them. They were met by the shields and spears of the healthy and ready trojan warriors who didn´t give ground even when the waves of attackers started to make gaps in the line. And Hector helped to mantaining the line, giving orders and making his presence raise the spirits of the trojan soldiers.
-This isn´t looking good-said Ulises while he looked towards the killing ground-I think we should fall back.
-My brother is dead, I wont let them surive this day-whispered Agamenon- And Troy needs to be conquered, the sooner the better. Send the next wave!
The nearby warlords and nobles looked wearily at the king.
-My lord if we send the reserves...-began one of Agamenon´s cousins.
-We will destroy them-said Agamenon grimly-Or die trying.
-Then you will surely die my king.
Agamenon and his warlords turned to find Itachi there with his armour almost broken, his sword covered with blood and sand and dust all over him. No wounds could be seen(mainly because it was very difficult to wound him and the regenerative powers also helped), but the look in his eyes was different.
-I have just came from the left flank and things aren´t looking good and our troups are begining to retreat-said Itachi, his voice calm yet very serious- Send the reinforcements now, and we will have a massacre of retreating soldiers trying to scape between two forces.
Agamenon felt silent as his eyes and Itachi´s began to battle, no one moved even the screams and sound of battles couldn´t be heard by anyone of thoose two men, even the other warlords couldn´t even move.
But after some seconds Itachi´s dark eyes finally won thank to years of learning how to intimidate with just one look.
-Ok, stop the assault-said Agamenon to one of the mounted soldiers nearby-Everyone fall back to the sea. Ajax, take one of the reserve forces and stop the trojans for a while.
-It will be done-said Itachi "And don´t think I will give you the pleasure of dying my pompous friend".
Itachi and his new squadron of spearmen run towards the retreating micenians and the pursuiting trojans. Many of the micenians were not carrying their weapons or shields so that they could run faster, running like the dogs of hell were coming after them, their heads looking backwards sometimes to see the uncoming trojans.
Itachi halted and ordered his warriors to make a lineof spears and shields, his eyes trying to found someone in particular. "Come on where are you" thought Itachi as more and more fleeing micenians crossed the gaps in the spearmen formation "Come on, you could wear at least something to distinct you from the others, a horse tail, a silver helmet a signal that says "Prince of Troy here!" For example".
Then he saw him mounted on a brown horse leading the trojans, his armour covered with blood and some wounds over his body. The helmet had a ponytail and his armour had some silver decorations.
-There he is...-said Itachi as he ordered his men to close all the gaps except one in the center where he stood.
Hector saw him too so he ordered his men to go back to their formations so that they wouldn´t be desorganized before he made his horse stop and he raised a hand to salute. Itachi did the same, it was time to parley a bit so both of them began to move forward until they were just some mere inches away from each other.
-We always meet this way-said Hector.
-Yeah it is a bit strange actually-responded Itachi as he looked at the prince- And we are at the same situation with the same problems.
-Well this time I have a slight advantage-said Hector as e pointed at the retreating micenians.
-But I can hold you up until reinforcements come and slaughter your forces that aren´t protected by the walls anymore-comented Itachi with a small smile-And believe me, I am very hard to kill.
-Well I had to try...-said Hector as he sighed- We will make a truce, this way we can take our dead and rest. Your king must accept it to reorganize his troops and my men are too tired to continue fighting. Will you be able to convince him?
-It won´t be the first time-said Itachi with a dangerous smile- Trust me, I know many ways to convince people.
They made another quick salute before Hector and his troops returned to the city, carrying their wounded and dead warriors while Itachi did the same, but going towards Agamenon´s camp.
"Well, it could have been worse than this" thought Itachi as he helped a leg-wounded man to stand up. His eyes went through the field, more than a thousand corpses were laying or moving slightly, arrows spears swords, shields laying with their now dead or wounded masters. It was one of thoose things that you don´t want to but you know you will remember it for all your life.
But it could have been worse.
I convinced Agamenon using my best persuasive ways, that battle costed us one thousand and four hundred men, while the trojans suffered less than a half of our losses. It wasn´t a good start for an invasion but Agamenon wanted Troy, so the siege continued.
I helped building the camps defences and just when the sun was about to totally hide I went to sleep. In my dreams I found the faces of the men that I had killed their eyes without light their faces white and terrifying.
I woke up sweating and with my heart bumping at a speed that I couldn´t believe possible. Every single night after that one thoose faces hunted me, and more came after thoose.
A veteran of a war normally has nightmares of the things he has done, after months or years of fighting. My case was far worse, because as time passed more wars brought their dark nightmares upon myself.